Universities minister apologises to A-level students missing out on places

David Willetts, the higher education minister, has told students who may find
themselves turned away from university: ''I am sorry,'' as the publication
of this year's A-level results sparked a scramble for places.

One in 12 A-levels was awarded the new A* grade boosting the proportion of A grade to a record 27 per cent, the figures showed.

Nevertheless, Mr WIlletts this morning acknowledged that even a clean sweep of top grades is not enough for some students. He has even suggested that some need to set their sights lower in order to secure a degree place.

Those who failed to meet the grades required for their first choice of university, and their insurance offer, as well as those who declined all their offers or did not receive any, will be entered into clearing. This is the annual process that matches students without a place to courses with spaces.

But with universities facing multi million-pound cuts and applications rising year-on-year, competition for places is fiercer than ever and the clearing process is expected to be short

Speaking at the headquarters of Ucas in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Mr Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, said: ''There are more places at university than ever before, and in fact, at this moment, more prospective students have now got a definite firm place at university than at this point last year.

''But sadly there will be people who have applied to university and don't get a place.

''It has always been a competitive process but for them we've got the widest possible range of alternative options, including, of course, studying at Open University, studying at an FE college, going into work with an apprenticeship. All those options are available as well.

''I think it is great that young people aim high, but it is competitive and sadly not every person who applies will get a place.''

Asked what he would say to students left without a place at university at the end of the clearing process, he said: ''I would say to them, we have done our best, there are more university places than ever before. I am sorry that they haven't got a place.

''And now, they have got a big decision to take. They can think about how they can strengthen their CV and reapply next year with something that might improve their chances.

''Alternatively they can look at options for FE colleges, going into work, going into apprenticeships. We are not writing them off, far from it, we are committed to offering them the best possible range of alternative opportunities.''

He added: ''There is more to education and careers and training than going away from home for three years to university at the age of 18.''

Many of the UK's top universities do not enter clearing, while others say the number of places they usually have available has been dramatically cut.

University admissions service Ucas said 181,182 students were eligible for clearing this year, but the number of courses showing vacancies is dramatically lower than 2009 figures.

Last year 32,000 courses were offering vacancies in the clearing process, compared to 18,484 this year.

It has been predicted that between 170,000 and 200,000 applicants, including sixth-formers and older learners, could miss out this autumn.

Speaking to on BBC radio earlier today, Mr Willetts said that 380,000 people now have a definite place at university, which is "slightly ahead of this time last year", and that clearing places are also available.

But he predicted that some candidates with three A grades might not get into the university of their choice.

After describing last year's figures as "shocking", when 3,500 people with three A grades did not go on to university, Mr Willetts was asked whether the same thing could happen again.

He replied: "It could be, because the most competitive universities really are very competitive indeed, so it does mean that there are people who can really do very well indeed and get three As at A-level and not find that they have got a place at those intensely competitive universities - which is why they are often advised to have one insurance offer for a slightly less competitive university, or they can think about doing the things that would make their CV even more distinctive and stand out for universities next year."

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Thousands of students with good A-levels have learnt that they do not have a college place and no easy alternative of work amid entrenched youth unemployment.

"Whatever its intentions, the introduction of the A* grade will do even more to favour the conveyor belt from private education to top universities.

"Britain remains one of the most unequal and class-bound societies in the developed world. We cannot lift the barriers to social mobility without radical action to make the UK less unequal, yet the policies of deep cuts to public spending are doing the opposite."